Discover them all for FREE, Boston Terrier Lifespan: How Long Do Boston, Staffordshire Bull Terrier vs Pitbull: What are, The Best Wet Food for Senior Dogs for 2022, Victor High Pro Plus Dog Food: Reviewed, Pros, Cons, & Recalls, The Australian Shepherds coat is long and wavy, Dogs like these arent naturally aggressive, American Shepherd vs Australian Shepherd: 8 Differences, Australian Shepherd vs Border Collie: 5 Key Differences Explained, Bernedoodle vs Goldendoodle: The 6 Key Differences Explained, Dog Quiz - 2,880 People Couldn't Ace This Quiz. Blue Heelers live for 10 to 13 years. The Australian Cattle Dog and the Blue Heeler are identical dogs. How trainable/obedient does the dog need to be? Ranchers favored the blue-colored dogs that were the result of lots of cross-breeding. Keep reading! The Australian shepherd is a playful and easygoing dog that gets along well with children and other animals. Both double coat types have a weather-resistant topcoat with a dense undercoat that is blown twice a year with the possibility of some shedding continually. The Australian Cattle Dog is known by various names including, Blue Heeler, Australian Heeler, and Queensland Heeler. Heelers are known for nibbling at cattles heels; therefore, theyll target a persons heel in the same way. This breeding led to a hardy dog suited to the harsh climate of Australia and would work all day in challenging terrain. It's FREE. We think youll like these other pages about snakes and other amazing animals. How about the fastest dogs, the largest dogs and those that are -- quite frankly -- just the kindest dogs on the planet? Although your dog may never experience any of these health problems, its worth knowing what they are; Despite the long list of potential health concerns, if you invite a Texas Heeler into your life, you can expect to share it with them for twelve to fifteen years. In the rain, the Blue Heelers water-resistant double layer keeps them dry, with the upper layer acting as a wick. In fact, its worth spending the time on this type of research so that both you and your dog can be sure that youll be a perfect match. They make excellent alert dogs as they will bark if an outsider approaches their property. Australian Shepherds, on the other hand, arent known for their adventurous nature. So, If you choose to share your life with a Blue Heeler Australian Shepherd mix, be prepared to provide your dog with a lot of physical and mental activity. Bred to work all day, the parent breeds of the Texas Heeler are high-energy, high stamina dogs, so expect your mixed breed dog to be similar. Your dog will be happy to be out running all day. Spiders that fly! Dogs are our best friends but which breed is your perfect match? Not only that, but your new dog is a highly intelligent working dog that has a strong drive to herd. The breeds coloration and coat patterns are unique, with no two dogs having the same pattern. How much exercise should your dog require? Australian Shepherds, or Aussie as its also known, were bred to herd livestock. Only red and blue are coat colors for a true Blue Heeler, aka Australian Cattle Dog. Recognized as Australian Cattle Dogs, the Blue Heeler breed is known for its alert, amiable temperament, and intense sense of devotion. Australian Shepherds are a bit larger than Blue Heelers in terms of size. Join today by entering your email below. Learn how your comment data is processed. Practical Paw is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Progressive retinal atrophy, canine hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, deafness, and Osteochondrosis Dissecans are just a few of the health issues facing the Blue Heeler. Like most herding breeds, Texas Heelers can be pushy and use their teeth to move their herd along. However, its more common that your mix breed dog will sport upright, forward-facing ears and look more like their Cattle dog parent. The phrase Blue Heeler refers to blue Australian Cattle Dogs. Surprisingly, the Australian Shepherd is an American breed. Lets explore these differences in more detail now! The Australian Shepherds coat is much fluffier. A medium-size, easy-to-care-for dog that can be challenging and pushy, the Texas Heeler nether the less excels in the right environment. Coat colors vary and can be black, blue merle, or blue ticked with accents of white or tan. Coat length can differ too. For me, the source of all that we are is embodied in our planet; and the process of writing and creating art around this topic is an attempt to communicate its wonders. Regular brushing will help remove the dead hair and keep it from spreading all over your home. In fact, the Texas Heelers prey drive may be too developed to share their home safely with other pets, so caution is needed in a multi-pet household. Nasal dermatitis, hip dysplasia, and epilepsy are just a few of the ailments that plague Australian Shepherds. Fish that walk! A cross between the Australian Cattle dog (Blue Heeler) and the Australian Shepherd dog, the Texas Heeler is active, smart, and friendly. One is an Australian breed related to the Dingo and originating in the 1800s. Regular eye and hip exams for your Australian Shepherd are usually a good idea. If you can offer this unique mix of dogs the right home, you will be rewarded with a devoted friend for life. Now, lets highlight eight other key distinctions between these two breeds. This shedding of the dense undercoat does mean that you need to increase grooming at these times as the fluff-like fur will come out in clumps. However, there are a few potential health issues that can affect this cross-breed. If youre a high-energy, active household thats looking for a capable running partner, agility companion, or obedience champion, then the Texas Heeler could be the perfect partner for you. If your dog has inherited the short fur of its Blue Heeler parent, you only need to brush it every couple of weeks. The Texas Heeler is a medium-sized dog ranging from seventeen to twenty inches tall and weighing thirty to fifty pounds. Agility, obedience,flyball, or scent work are great sports to help keep your dog busy and mentally engaged. Even though both breeds are medium-sized herding dogs, the Blue Heeler vs Australian Shepherd are extremely distinct dogs. Because of their herding skills, Australian shepherds are wonderful pets for families. Finally, Australian Shepherds have slightly longer lifespans than Blue Heelers. Looking into the history of the parent breeds offers a greater understanding of what type of dog youll be inviting into your home. You may see some with chocolate or cream colors, but these are considered flaws by many and may indicate dilution in their purity. The Australian Shepherds coat is long and wavy, with a dense undercoat and a coarse topcoat. However, the Texas Heelers name does give us an insight into where this crossbreed is popular. The Texas Heeler is an intelligent dog that is happiest with a job to do. If youre looking for an energetic, loyal, and steady companion for fun, adventure, and long walks in the countryside, the Texas Heeler could be your perfect match. But the Australian Cattle dog didnt reach its full potential until the introduction of the native Dingo into the breed. Although it may not appear to be much because they are both in the same size group, a few inches can make a dramatic difference. Australian Shepherds come in different colors and have long, fluffy coats as opposed to the dense, water-resistant coat of the Blue Heeler. Upon close investigation, the natural world exposes truths far beyond the obvious. Despite its various names, blue heelers have always worked as herding dogs. One of the oldest Australian Cattle Dogs on record, a female named Bluey, lived to the ripe old age of 29, which is extremely uncommon. To be honest, there is no difference except for color. As part of your regular grooming routine, check your dogs ears and brush theirteethto keep them in top condition. The Australian Shepherd is historically American, first gaining popularity in California. Then they came to California, where ranchers widely adopted the breed they called Australian Shepherds to herd cattle. The colors available are black, blue merle, crimson, and red merle. Both the Blue Heeler and Australian Shepherd are robust dogs. Although many Texas heelers are born with bobtails like that of their Australian Cattle dog parent, it is also possible that they will sport a full tail. Australian Shepherds have fluffy coats, while Blue Heelers have dense and thick fur. Roman Rottweiler vs German Rottweiler: 8 Differences, English vs American Golden Retriever: 5 Differences, Blue Heeler vs Australian Shepherd: 8 Key Differences. It was nicknamed the Heeler because of its nipping technique at the heels of the animals it was herding. Blue Heeler Australian shepherd mix at its bestLoyal, devoted and affectionate. The Blue Heeler, which is also referred to as the Australian Cattle Dog, is a smaller breed, weighing an average of 49 pounds. A high energy dog that is destructive when bored. These two breeds can have similar temperaments on occasion because they are both normally nice with youngsters, loyal, and intelligent. White Sharks live in all of the world's oceans. Hence the name, Heeler. As a result, proper training and socialization must begin at an early age. If you walk your dog frequently, there shouldnt be any need to trim theirnailsas they will get worn down naturally. This isnt necessarily a problem for dog-savvy children, but care is needed around children unfamiliar or wary of dogs. Although the breeds used to create the Aussie are not known for sure, Collies and Shepherd dogs likely make up some of its breed history. While this makes this mixed dog breed easy to train with positive reinforcement and keen to learn the Texas Heeler nether, the less does have a mind of its own and may think they know better than you do. On the other hand, Australian Shepherds are laid back, even around kids and other animals. Their facial hair is short, and their back legs are feathered. A substantial part of my life has been spent as a writer and artist, with great respect to observing nature with an analytical and metaphysical eye. These two breeds of herding dogs originate from different continents. A true best friend that will stick with you through thick and thin. Blue Heelers job is to nip at the heels of cattle while herding, so they arent always great with kids. Hopefully, this article has herded sufficient information to illustrate the various distinctions between the Blue Heeler and the Australian Shepherd. The other is a United States ranch dog. Males range in height from paw to shoulder between 18 and 23 inches, whereas Blue Heelers stand between 17 and 20 inches tall. And 1000+ more incredible animals. But with the right family, the Blue Heeler AustralianShepherd mixwill shine. So, if you cant commit to at least two hours of physical exercise a day, the Texas Heeler is probably not the dog for you. And the best part? We go to great lengths to help users better understand their dogs; however, the content on this blog is not a substitute for veterinary guidance. However, there are so many distinctions between these two breeds, including their drive to roam and explore, their coats, colors, and place of origin as well. Not only that, but mental exercise is essential to keep your dog content. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Its name comes from the fact that the Basque people from northern Spain traveled to Australia with Pyrenean Shepherds, which they bred with Border Collies and other British breeds. If you have kids or existing dogs select: Is the Blue Heeler the Same as the Australian Cattle Dog? The Blue Heeler and the Australian Shepherd differ in a multitude of aspects, including origin, disposition, trainability, and physical appearance. Copyright 2022. Australian Shepherd males weigh an average of 58 pounds. So, what can you expect from your Texas Heeler? Loyal, affectionate, and devoted the Texas Heeler is a challenge for a first-time owner. As the breed developed, dogs were chosen for their intelligence, ability to herd, and work ethic. However, when they do feel threatened, Blue Heelers have a notoriously bad reputation for biting people. The Texas Heeler doesnt need much to keep its weather-resistant coat healthy. So, looking at the parent breeds is the best way to determine your mixed-breed dogs likely temperament, appearance, and energy levels. Unfortunately, your dogs herd can also include family members, especially young children. Australian shepherd blue heeler mix at its worsePushy, nippy and intelligent enough to outthink you. Australian Shepherds live an average of 12 to 14 years. While some Texas Heelers will gain the short straight coat of the Blue Heeler, others will inherit the medium length wavy or straight coat of the Australian Shepherd. Australian Shepherd vs Australian Cattle Dog: What are the Differences? The Australian Shepherd is the largest of the two breeds. These qualities ultimately resulted in the Australian Shepherd as we know it today. So, what makes the Blue Heeler Australian Shepherd mix perfect for an active family that can offer plenty of physical exercise and mental stimulation? The Blue Heeler is smaller than an Australian Shepherd on average, both in height and weight. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Each day, AZ Animals sends out lists just like this to our thousands of email subscribers. Despite its name, the Aussie originally came from America. Dogs like these arent naturally aggressive, so they could be a great fit for families with children. Red Heelers are Australian Cattle Dogs that are red in color. Australian Shepherds tend to be a little larger than Blue Heelers. Most cross-breed or designer dogs dont have a reliable history of their own. The ears of the Texas Heeler can differ, too, as they can be either pricked or folded. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. Surprisingly, the Blue Heeler dog breed (aka Australian Cattle Dog) originated in Australia as a result of breeding Blue Merle Collies with Dingos. Both dogs have generally pleasant temperaments. Initially bred by Australian settlers to herd cattle, the Blue Heeler was developed to be robust, determined, and pushy. In fact, even if your Texas Heeler has gained the slightly longer coat of its Australian Shepherd parent, it doesnt need much more than brushing once a week. Affectionate, loyal, and protective of their family, Texas Heelers can be aloof with strangers. Its almost impossible to over-exercise your Texas Heeler. They are more at ease in their own home. The American Kennel Club (AKC) accepts four coat colors in purebred Australian Shepherds. The Blue Heeler has a dense coat because of the Australian environment and outdoor lifestyle. Practicalpaw.com does not intend to provide veterinary advice. 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